Gall stops Punk in the first-round

It was a long-awaited match that was delayed. Yet, Mickey Gall did what he said he was going to do.

The New Jersey native improved to 2-0 as he defeated CM Punk, the former World Wrestling Entertainment Superstar.

Punk was making his Octagon debut after signing with the company after his WWE contract expired. Gall ended Punk in the first-round at 2:14 with a rear-naked choke at UFC 203 from Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

Gall improved to 3-0 in his MMA career. He won a fight with UFC president Dana White in attendance — which was on White’s YouTube Series — then called out Punk when he was being interviewed, which set the ball rolling for this fight.

However, Gall had to “earn it” with Punk in attendance. He was signed and had to face Mike Jackson — who is a journalist-turned-MMA fighter — in February from UFC Fight Night in February.

It was Jackson’s only fight — which he was defeated in 45 seconds. It wasn’t even a true match, before Jackson was submitted.

The fight was originally scheduled to be at UFC 200 — but that was moved because of Punk was injured. Earlier this week, there were reports that Gall was injured and had to withdraw — but that wasn’t the case.